Some people might think chicken nuggets and the like are for kids, but adults flock to them too. Take the energy ball trend, for example, or chocolate truffles, foods created by adults for adults with that spark of childhood fun.

Perhaps these foods are so beloved because they are small, portion-controlled, and therefore diet-friendly; or maybe because they are shaped perfectly for dipping, and the fun and delicious of dipping speaks for itself. What about dipping carrots in hummus makes the bland vegetable so good? Why do chips in salsa, or fries in ketchup become even more addictive than on their own?

Why worry about those unhealthy foods when there’s a nutritious recipe filled with all of the crispy, garlicky, scrumptiousness of Italian food? Enter the Zucchini Garlic Bite.

Zucchini: The Vegetable that Keeps on Giving

Zucchini is the quintessential healthy food to substitute unhealthy food. There’s the trend of zucchini fries, zucchini snuck in chocolate desserts, zucchini noodles, zucchini muffins, and the list just goes on! And it should.

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First of all, zucchinis are low in carbs, which is why they’re so popular with the dieters. It’s also rich in essential nutrients like potassium, manganese, vitamin C, and vitamin A. Due to their water content and polysaccharides, a certain kind of carbohydrate, zucchinis could even improve one’s heart health. It contains pectin, a fiber that has been shown to reduce inflammation and may protect the body against diabetes and insulin resistance.[1]

There’s no wonder this vegetable took the food world by a storm.

How to Make Zucchini Garlic Bites

In order for the balls to taste crispy, it’s imperative to squeeze as much moister as possible out of the zucchini. This will ensure the inside of the bites is soft and the outside is crunchy.

Here’s how: Shred the zucchini using a food processor or hand grater. Place the zucchini shreds in a kitchen towel and wring out the moisture. Grate the garlic and combine all of the ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl.

Mix until all of the ingredients are combined, shape the mixture into small balls, and place them on prepared baking sheets.

Bake the balls until they’re golden and serve them with a dipping sauce, because, as we said before, dipping makes everything taste better. It’s science (but don’t look that up!)

Blend 2–3 slices of gluten-free bread in a food processor. Bake the crumbs on a baking sheet in an oven preheated to 325 degrees. Bake for 7 minutes, stir and bake for another 7 minutes. These breadcrumbs store for up to 2–3 days in the fridge, or 3 months in the freezer. [3]

For ‘cheat’ breadcrumbs that are also grain-free, use almond flour. Add some of your favorite spices to make up for the flavor and use in the recipe as directed.

***For the marinara sauce, you can also use store-bought for quicker cooking time.

Simply blend the following in a food processor until smooth:

2 (14.5 ounces) cans of stewed tomatoes

1 (6-ounce) tomato paste

4 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

Sauté the following in a large skillet:

6 tablespoons olive oil

1/3 cup onion, diced

Then add the tomato sauce with:

½ cup white wine

Simmer the sauce on low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, and serve with the Zucchini Garlic Bites. [4]

Sarah is a baker, cook, author, and blogger living in Toronto. She believes that food is the best method of healing and a classic way of bringing people together. In her spare time, Sarah does yoga, reads cookbooks, writes stories, and finds ways to make any type of food in her blender. Her blog The Creative Palate shares the nutrition and imagination of her recipes for others embarking on their journey to wellbeing.

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